The queen of the house, mother, will be celebrated like she deserves it this coming May 11th, starting at 7pm, at 331 Jevlan Drive, Unit 8 in Woodbridge, in the area of Weston Road and Hwy 7.

The event will be organized by the Guatemalan Canadian Association, ASOGUATE, for the purpose of entertaining all of the mothers, spend a good time with family and to raise the first funds for the educational project in Guatemala next year.

Save the date for this celebration as there will have limited space. To reserve your seat please send us a message at info or by telephone 647-200-9963.

There will be lots of varied food, dancing and surprises to entertain that special mother.

BBQ and Christmas Celebration

For those of us who are waiting for the arrival of summer, ASOGUATE also has plans for our annual Summer Picnic, which will take place on July 20th.

As part of our yearly scheduling, the traditional Christmas Celebration is planned for November 30th at the Jamaican Banquet Hall. Due to the fact that last year the hall was not large enough to accommodate all of the persons that attended, on this occasion we will have at our disposal the large hall.

Once again, the funds raised will be destined to the educational project of 2020.
Please save the dates and we hope to count on your support.

Executives and collaborators from the Guatemalan Canadian Association, ASOGUATE, travelled last week to the north of Guatemala to deliver school bags with school supplies and to observe the progress of the construction workers of the classroom of the Jumuc school in Chicamán, Quiché.

The happiness of the children, teachers and parents who attended was evident ; but nevertheless, the sadness, the anger, the frustration and many other sentiments were also evident in the visitors who could observe the poverty and misery in which the community finds itself.

To see children barefoot, with little clothing and feeling very cold, in a humid region with low clouds settled in the Cuchumatanes mountain range, was what caused the tears of those who had the opportunity to enter that profound Guatemala, the Guatemala of rural areas, the Guatemala where the school breakfast, healthcare, and social justice did not arrive.

And our visit coincided with the news that the government, in its third year had the current president projecting his ‘achievements’, achievements that are far from being seen by these children who will be challenged to finish grade 6, as their economic limitations will forced them to contribute to their household economy dedicating themselves to agriculture.

A product of this situation, Guatemala finds itself as one of the worst countries in Latin America with respect to indexes of human development, just behind Haiti.

This was the second year that ASOGUATE donated school bags to the children of Jumuc, one of the regions most affected by the civil war of 36 years that affected Guatemala, and whose consequences can be observed in any community in the area, a region which was abandoned by the current authorities.

Since 12 years ago, ASOGUATE has organized a diverse array of events raising funds that allow it to make donations in different parts of the country, including Guatemala City, Sololá, Quiché, and Sacatepéquez, among others.

Through this medium ASOGUATE would like to thank all of people who participated at the Christmas Celebration 2018, to the volunteers, and especially the sponsors whose support allowed the realization of this project.

Soon, we will show you more graphic material of the finished classroom!!!

The Guatemalan Canadian Association, ASOGUATE, laments the situation in our country provoked by the irresponsibility of president Jimmy Morales after announcing the non-renovation of the mandate for the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala, CICIG.

We believe that the decision was taken to maintain the prevailing corruption and impunity in the country and to halt the different investigations that were underway.

As Guatemalans in Canada we demand that this petition is considered and that the CICIG stays in Guatemala until such time as it finishes will all corrupt people.

In addition, we demand the guarantee of the physical and labour security of the commissioner, Ivan Velasquez, so that he is able to continue at the forefront of this institution.

What satisfaction to personally deliver the food, corrugated steel, and toys to the victoms of the erruption of the Vocano of Fire in Guatemala.

By Omar Cano

To comply with what was promised, representatives of the Guatemalan Canadian Association, ASOGUATE, and Tekun Uman Constructions, delivered this past Saturday July 28th, the food, building material, and toys as part of the Unidos for Guatemala campaign, to the famlies that inhabit the skirt of the volcano, that this past June 3rd, unleashed its furry, leaving hundreds dead and thousands affected in Guatemala.

Residents of the Yuca comunities, Panimache 1 and Panimache 2, of Chimaltenango were the beneficiaries of this donation, a product of the solidarity demonstrated by residents of both Canada and the United States.

The donation was not easy. Our day started at 4 in the morning and in the trajectory it was necessary to cross rivers, cane fields, and mountains, under a radiant sun and temperatures that soared above 30 degrees celcius.

Incidents were to the order of the day, like when one of the pick up trucks dropped its load, as the corrugated sheet steel slipped, but they were all overcome by happiness, enthusiasm, especially by the members of the 4×4 Club Guatemala, lead by Diego Mérida, who applied all of their experience and knowledge for make this project a reality.

Many scenes will remain ingrained in our memories like the one when we saw a young girl walking in an area with rocks and volcanic ash barefoot. Or like when upon asking a young 8 year old boy why he did not attend school, he responded that until his sister finished the 6th grade he could not go as their parents could not afford to send them to school at the same time. Or, even more, seeing a 15 year old girl carrying her own baby of 8 months, that was a product of lack of education and opportunities.

Upon returning to Canada, tired but with the satisfaction of accomplishing our duty, there is nothing more to do than thank all of the people who supported us voluntarily in this campaign.

Thank you to all the sponsors and especially to those who although not Guatemalans gave us all of their support, demonstrating through that, their gigantic solidary heart.

Special thank yous go out to Mark Ram, Erin Mejía, Silvia Méndez and Graciela López, who from the first moment took on the general coordination of the campaign.

Everyone, everyone, demonstrated their Chapin heart to surpass the goal of 30 thousand dollars that was translated into laughter, gratefuless, and blessings.

Thank you to the Lobos al Rescate, a group of young life guards who even though could not count on any institutional support, showed us the meaning of serving without expecting anything in return.

Thank you to Hugo Rodas Jr., Omar Cano Jr., Erin Mejia and Edgar Mendez, who next to who this writes, made all of the effort to travel to the skirts of the colossus, without giving thought to the dust, heat and rain, and remained happy until delivering the last sheet of corrugated metal, the last bag of food, and the last toy.

The Guatemalan Canadian Association, ASOGUATE, bid goodbye to the 2016 year with a joyfull Christmas Celebration organized at the parish hall of Saint Philip Neri Church in Toronto, this past weekend.
Numerous people participated at the event which was organized for the tenth consecutive year by the Guatemalan Association. The funds raised will be utilized for the purchase of school supply bags which will be donated in January of next year to impoverished children in that Central American country.
With this event, Asoguate concluded a fruitfull year that included the presentation of the Marimba de Concierto de Bellas Artes this past June, and the Marimba Femenina Malacatancito this past November, on top of the Family Picnic in the summer.
Entertainment at the Christmas event was provided by Guatemalan DJ Rene, who with his mix of rythms kept those in attendance on the dance floor.
Finally, Asoguate woudl like to wish all those who attended a Merry Christmas and prosperous 2017